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73611972011-08-29 20:58:50&$ The 18.1-meter-long core module, with a maximum diameter of 4.2 meters and a launch weight of 20 to 22 tons, will be launched first.
The two experiment modules will then blast off to dock with the core module. Each laboratory module is 14.4 meters long, with the same maximum diameter and launch weight of the core module.
"The 60-ton space station is rather small compared to the International Space Station (419 tons), and Russia's Mir Space Station (137 tons) which served between 1996 and 2001," said Pang Zhihao, a researcher and deputy editor-in-chief of the monthly magazine, Space International.
"But it is the world's third multi-module space station, which usually demands much more complicated technology than a single-module space lab," he said.
The office also said that China will develop a cargo spaceship, with a maximum diameter of 3.35 meters and a launch weight less than 13 tons, to transport supplies and lab facilities to the space station.
Pang said it is the first time that the office confirmed plans to build a cargo spaceship, which is vital for long-term space missions.
The public is being asked to submit suggestions for names and symbols to adorn the space station.
"Considering past achievements and the bright future, we feel that the manned space program should have a more vivid symbol and that the future space station should carry a resounding and encouraging name," Wang Wenbao, director of the office, said at the news conference.
China previously named the space lab "Tiangong" meaning heavenly palace, and the spacecraft to transport astronauts was named "Shenzhou", divine vessel. Its moon probes were named after the country's mythical Moon Goddess "Chang'e". But the names were selected without public input.
"We now feel that the public should be involved in the names and symbols as this major project will enhance national prestige, and strengthen the national sense of cohesion and pride," Wang said.
The public is welcomed to submit suggestions for the space station and its three modules, as well as symbols for the China Manned Space Engineering Program and the space station.
Suggestions should be submitted between Monday and July 25 via websites including www.cmse.gov.cn or e-mailed to kongjianzhan@vip.qq.com. The result will be decided before the end of September.
Suggested names for the cargo spaceship, however, should be submitted far earlier - betwee ]]>73079512011-08-29 20:35:28&$By Xin Dingding, China Daily&$&$
]]>73079202011-08-29 20:33:46&$People's Daily Online / Xinhua&$&$
]]>72641882011-08-29 20:35:48&$By Zhu Shanshan, Global Times&$&$&$

&$ ]]>72638162011-08-29 20:34:33&$By Zhang Qian, People's Daily Online&$&$ ]]>72491412011-08-29 20:36:03
&$This Dec 26, 2008 file photo shows a huge construction site of the expansion project of the two million-kw generating units in the Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant in Haiyan, East China's Zhejiang province. (Xinhua Photo)&$&$
Chinese scientists have made a breakthrough in spent fuel reprocessing technology that could potentially solve China's uranium supply problem, Chinese television reported on Monday.
The te ...]]>
&$This Dec 26, 2008 file photo shows a huge construction site of the expansion project of the two million-kw generating units in the Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant in Haiyan, East China's Zhejiang province. (Xinhua Photo)&$&$
Chinese scientists have made a breakthrough in spent fuel reprocessing technology that could potentially solve China's uranium supply problem, Chinese television reported on Monday.
The technology, developed and tested at the No.404 Factory of China National Nuclear Corp in the Gobi desert in remote Gansu province, enables the re-use of irradiated fuel and is able to boost the usage rate of uranium materials at nuclear plants by 60 folds.
"With the new technology, China's existing detected uranium resources can be used for 3,000 years," the China Central Television reported.
China, as well as France, the United Kingdom and Russia, actively supports reprocessing as a means for the management of highly radioactive spent fuel and as a source of fissile material for future nuclear fuel supply.
But independent scientists argued that commercial application of nuclear fuel reprocessing has always been hindered by cost, technology, proliferation risk and safety challenges.
China has 171,400 tonnes of proven uranium resources spread mainly in eight provinces -- Jiangxi, Guangdong, Hunan, Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, Shaanxi, Liaoning and Yunnan.
China is planning a massive push into nuclear power in an effort to wean itself off coal, the dirtiest fossil fuel. It now has 12 working reactors with 10.15 gigawatt of total generating capacity.
China has set an official target of 40 gigawatts (GW) of installed nuclear generating capacity by 2020, but the government indicated it could double the goal to about 80 GW as faster expansion was one of the more feasible solutions for achieving emissions reduction goals.
As such, China will need to source more than 60 percent of the uranium needed for its nuclear power plants from overseas by 2020, even if the country moves forward with a modest nuclear expansion plan, Chinese researchers say.
&$&$Source:Xinhua&$&$&$

&$ ]]>72026932011-08-29 20:37:26&$By Zhang Qian, People's Daily Online&$&$ ]]>72013142011-08-29 20:37:51&$By Liang Jun, People's Daily Online&$&$ ]]>71949382011-08-29 20:38:06&$By Liang Jun, People's Daily Online&$&$ ]]>71794242011-08-29 20:38:47&$Source:Xinhua&$&$ ]]>71792962011-08-29 20:38:31&$By Li Mu, People's Daily Online&$&$ ]]>71454532011-08-29 20:40:0071450372011-08-29 20:39:38&$By Zhao Chenyan, People's Daily Online&$&$ ]]>71075882011-08-29 20:40:37&$By People's Daily Online&$&$ ]]>69171022011-08-29 20:41:56&$Source:Xinhua&$&$ ]]>69159852011-08-29 20:42:48&$By People's Dailly Online&$&$ ]]>69091682011-08-29 20:43:09&$Source:Xinhua&$&$ ]]>69082482011-08-29 20:39:16&$Source:Xinhua&$&$ ]]>69075212011-08-29 20:43:51&$Source:Xinhua&$&$ ...]]>&$Source:Xinhua&$&$ ]]>68907532011-08-29 20:44:39&$By People's Daily Online&$&$ ]]>68549862011-08-29 20:45:19&$Another spacecraft launch likely in 2010 to prepare for space lab&$&$
China plans to launch Chang'e-2, the country's second lunar probe, at the end of 2010, space authorities announced yesterday.
The design and production of Chang'e-2 is complete, and the lunar orbiter is undergoing ground tests, the State Administration of Science Technology and Industry for National Defense said yesterday in a news release.
Chang'e-2 is expected to test the soft-landing technological capabi ...]]>&$Another spacecraft launch likely in 2010 to prepare for space lab&$&$
China plans to launch Chang'e-2, the country's second lunar probe, at the end of 2010, space authorities announced yesterday.
The design and production of Chang'e-2 is complete, and the lunar orbiter is undergoing ground tests, the State Administration of Science Technology and Industry for National Defense said yesterday in a news release.
Chang'e-2 is expected to test the soft-landing technological capability for the Chang'e-3 and provide high-resolution images of the landing area, the administration said.
"Progress on six key technologies of Chang'e-2 has been made, including the lunar capture, orbit control and research on high-resolution stereo camera," the administration's spokesman said.
Ye Peijian, chief designer of the nation's first lunar probe, had told China Daily earlier that the launch was expected in October.
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The administration said that Chang'e-3, the country's lunar lander and rover, is also well on the way toward liftoff. The project is now in the prototype stage.
Chang'e-2 and Chang'e-3 are part of the second phase of the country's lunar exploration program, which consists of three stages - "orbiting", "landing" and "returning".
Ye said earlier that Chang'e-3 is likely to be launched before 2013. The country's first lunar probe, Chang'e-1, was launched in October 2007 and ended its 16-month mission on March 1 this year.
Meanwhile, China's manned space project is also likely to see a breakthrough next year, a top scientist said.
Qi Faren, chief designer of the Shenzhou spacecraft, told Guangzhou Daily on Sunday that Tiangong-1, or Heavenly Palace-1, a spacecraft that will test docking technology and prepare for the future construction of space laboratories, will be launched by the end of next year at the earliest.
According to the official website of China's manned space program, www.cmse.gov.cn, the launch date of Tiangong-1 is set between late 2010 and early 2011.
Within two years of the launch of Tiangong-I, China will launch Shenzhou-VIII, Shenzhou-IX and Shenzhou-X spaceships, to dock with Tiangong-1, the website said.
Two space laboratories, Tiangong-II and Tiangong-III, will follow, and China aims to build its own space station by the year 2020, the website said.
China became the third nation - after the US and Russia - to send people into space when Yang Liwei went into orbit aboard the spaceship Shenzhou-V on Oct 15, 2003. Three other astronauts were sent to space in Shenzhou-VII and carried out the country's first space walk in September 2008.
Shen Liping, deputy chief designer of China's manned space program, was quoted by Guangzhou Daily as saying on Sunday that China's first woman astronaut will be able to fly to outer space sooner than the targeted 10 years.
&$&$Source: China Daily&$&$ ]]>